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ETF Comparison

SCHD vs SCHG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 10, 2026

ETFs34
Total AUM$574B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHD and SCHG.

Side-by-side snapshot

SCHDSCHG
Full nameSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF
IssuerSchwabSchwab
Last Close$32.26 as of July 10, 2026$34.54 as of July 10, 2026
Distribution yield3.13%0.39%
Distribution Safety Score 100100
Expense ratio0.06%0.04%
AUM$95.2B$58.4B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexDow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 IndexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index
ObjectiveSeeks to track as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the total return of the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which measures the performance of high dividend yielding stocks issued by U.S. companies with a record of consistently paying dividends, selected for fundamental strength relative to their peers based on financial ratios.Capital Appreciation
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/20/201112/11/2009
Beta0.581.21
Last dividend$0.2525$0.0340
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose SCHD if you want higher current income (3.13% vs 0.39% for SCHG). Choose SCHG if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Income calculator

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

SCHD has outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.45% total return against 18.74%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.65% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.32%. SCHD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.1% against 19.5% for SCHG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Oct 2011Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SCHD17.32%21.45%14.01%8.90%12.32%13.11%13.1%0.670.96-16.1%
SCHG6.41%18.74%23.55%13.69%18.65%17.54%19.5%0.861.23-23.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 9, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2011” measures every fund from October 20, 2011 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) and SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SCHD offers the higher yield at 3.13% vs 0.39% for SCHG. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SCHG is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.04% compared to 0.06%.

They track different benchmarks: SCHD is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index while SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SCHD is the larger fund by assets ($95.2B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose SCHD

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

  • Want higher current income — SCHD yields 3.13% vs 0.39% for SCHG.
  • Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.
  • Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.6 vs 1.2 for SCHG.

Choose SCHG

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.04% expense ratio vs 0.06% for SCHD.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SCHD would generate roughly $26.08/month, while SCHG would produce $3.25/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SCHD yield3.13%
SCHG yield0.39%
Monthly diff on $10K$22.83

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SCHD would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $40 for SCHG (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SCHD ER0.06%
SCHG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

SCHD tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with a basket approach, while SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach. Beta is 0.58 for SCHD and 1.21 for SCHG, indicating SCHD is less volatile relative to the market.

SCHD beta0.58
SCHG beta1.21

Fund details

SCHD is managed by Schwab (launched 10/20/2011) with $95.2B in assets. SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $58.4B in assets.

SCHD AUM$95.2B
SCHG AUM$58.4B

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Frequently asked questions

Is SCHD or SCHG better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SCHD currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between SCHD and SCHG?

SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with a basket approach, while SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach. They are issued by Schwab and Schwab respectively.

Can I hold both SCHD and SCHG?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, SCHD or SCHG?

SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% while SCHG charges 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SCHD vs SCHG generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SCHD would generate roughly $26.08 per month ($313.00 annually). The same in SCHG would produce about $3.25 per month ($39.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SCHD or SCHG?

SCHD has outpaced SCHG over the trailing twelve months, posting a 21.45% total return against 18.74%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SCHG has compounded at 18.65% a year, ahead of SCHD at 12.32%. SCHD has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 13.1% against 19.5% for SCHG. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

SCHD vs SCHG — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

SCHD and SCHG are both Schwab large-cap equity ETFs tracking different Dow Jones indexes, but they pursue opposite strategies. SCHD targets dividend-paying stocks with consistent payout histories and screens for fundamental strength, while SCHG chases capital appreciation through growth-oriented companies. The funds' different underlying exposures—dividend yield versus earnings growth—produce vastly different income profiles and volatility profiles.

How they differ

The defining split is strategy: SCHD is a dividend-focused strategy with a 3.12% distribution rate, while SCHG is a growth strategy with a 0.40% yield, reflecting fundamentally different stock selection. SCHD's beta of 0.59 signals lower volatility relative to the broad market, whereas SCHG's beta of 1.19 shows it swings harder than the market in both directions—a natural outcome of growth stocks' sensitivity to interest-rate and sentiment shifts. On cost, SCHG edges SCHD slightly (0.04% versus 0.06%), though both are exceptionally cheap; SCHD's larger AUM of $95.2B versus $58.4B suggests more established institutional and retail adoption.

Who each is best for

SCHD: Fits investors seeking regular income from stocks with below-market volatility, or those building a diversified portfolio where dividend stability matters more than capital upside.

SCHG: Designed for investors with longer time horizons who prioritize capital gains and can tolerate higher fluctuations, or those looking to balance a dividend-heavy core with growth exposure.

Key risks to know

  • Dividend-cut risk (SCHD): A recession or profit downturn could force SCHD's holdings to slash payouts, shrinking both income and NAV simultaneously; the screening for "consistent" dividends helps but doesn't eliminate this risk.
  • Growth stock sensitivity (SCHG): Rising interest rates and tightening financial conditions disproportionately hurt SCHG's holdings because growth investors pay up for future earnings, making those earnings vulnerable to discount-rate changes.
  • Concentration in mega-cap tech (SCHG): Both funds hold large-cap names, but SCHG's growth mandate means heavier weighting in Magnificent Seven–style names, creating single-sector concentration risk absent from SCHD's more diversified dividend basket.
  • Beta mismatch in market reversals: SCHD's low beta (0.59) means it lags in strong bull markets, while SCHG's high beta (1.19) amplifies losses during sharp corrections, so a portfolio mixing both must tolerate conflicting performance cycles.

Bottom line

If you want steady quarterly income and are comfortable with slower upside, SCHD's 3.12% yield and lower volatility stand out. If you're building a growth component and can live without dividends, SCHG's minimal yield drag and higher sensitivity to market appreciation may align better. Both charge negligible fees, so the choice hinges on whether you need income today or growth tomorrow—past performance doesn't predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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